U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links

The U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, often referred to as the Public Links or the Publinx, was a women's amateur golf tournament, one of 10 individual amateur championships organized by the USGA and first played in 1977. The USGA officially called the event the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links, which it has registered as a service mark. The tournament was devised as a championship for female amateurs who play on public courses, as members of private clubs were barred from entry. In February 2013, the USGA announced that both this event and its men's counterpart, the U.S. Amateur Public Links, would be discontinued after their 2014 editions, and would be replaced by new amateur four-ball championships for both men and women.[1]

While the U.S. Amateur Public Links was first held in 1922, the women's counterpart event was not held until 55 years later. Both the men's and women's Publinx had been created to provide outlets for national competition for public-course golfers, who before 1979 had been barred from entering either the U.S. Amateur or U.S. Women's Amateur because both events were restricted to members of clubs affiliated with the USGA or (presumably) other national governing bodies. When the USGA announced the demise of the men's and women's Publinx, it specifically stated that "the APL [Amateur Public Links] and WAPL [Women's Amateur Public Links] championships no longer serve their original mission because of the widespread accessibility public-course golfers today enjoy in USGA championships."[1]

The main tournament opened with two rounds of stroke play. The leading 64 players then qualified to compete in a match play competition. The matches were played over 18 holes. Before 2002, the final was also played over 18 holes. From 2002 to 2014, the final was played over 36 holes.

Eligibility is similar to that for the U.S. Women's Amateur. Golfers must follow the USGA's guidelines for amateur status. The USGA defines an "amateur golfer" as anyone who plays golf purely for the qualities of the game itself, "not as a profession and not for financial gain".[2] The Public Links, like the U.S. Women's Amateur, had no age restrictions. However, there were two key differences in the eligibility criteria for the Public Links:

  • Entries were accepted from golfers with a USGA handicap index of 18.4 or lower, as opposed to 5.4 for the U.S. Women's Amateur.
  • Entries were not accepted from players who had playing privileges at golf clubs not open to the general public, and such golfers were not allowed to compete if they received such privileges between their entry and the end of the main tournament.
    • Exceptions to above: The USGA did consider some players with privileges at non-public facilities to be "bona fide public course players," specifically those whose privileges were solely due to any of the following:
      • Their enrollment in a specific educational institution.
      • Their status as active or retired members of the military.
      • Their current or former employment by an entity other than a golf club.

Michelle Wie became the youngest champion in the history of USGA adult championships when she won the 2003 U.S. Women's Public Links championship at age 13, her final tournament victory as an amateur. Wie also holds the record as the youngest Publinx competitor; she played in 2000 as a 10-year-old.

Winners

YearVenueWinnerCountryScoreRunner-up
2014The Home CourseFumie "Alice" Jo China3 & 2 Eun Jeong Seong
2013Jimmie Austin OU Golf ClubLauren Diaz-Yi United States10 & 9 Doris Chen
2012Neshanic Valley Golf CourseKyung Kim United States4 & 2 Ashlan Ramsey
2011Bandon Dunes Golf ResortBrianna Do[3] United States
 Vietnam
1 up Marissa Dodd
2010Notre Dame's Warren Golf CourseEmily Tubert United States3 & 2 Lisa McCloskey
2009Red Tail Golf ClubJennifer Song United States
 South Korea
7 & 6 Kimberly Kim
2008Erin HillsTiffany Joh United States2 & 1 Jennifer Song
2007Kearney Hill Golf LinksMina Harigae United States4 & 3 Stephany Fleet
2006Walking Stick G.C.Tiffany Joh United States6 & 5 Kimberly Kim
2005Swope Memorial G.C.Eunjung Yi South Korea37 holes Tiffany Chudy
2004Golden Horseshoe G.C. (Green Course)Yani Tseng Taiwan1 up Michelle Wie
2003Ocean Hammock G.C.Michelle Wie United States1 up Virada Nirapathpongporn
2002Sunriver Resort (Meadow Course)Annie Thurman United States6 & 5 Hwanhee Lee
2001Kemper Lakes G.C.Candie Kung Taiwan2 up Missy Farr-Kaye
2000Legacy Golf LinksCatherine Cartwright United States3 & 1 Russamee Gulyanamitta
1999Santa Ana Golf ClubJody Niemann United States1 up Sue Billek Nyhus
1998Kapalua (Hawaii) Golf Club (Bay Course)Amy Spooner United States2 & 1 Natalie Wong
1997Center Square (Pa.) G.C.Jo Jo Robertson United States3 & 2 Angie Yoon
1996Spencer T. Olin Community G.C.Heather Graff United States5 & 4; Lauri Berles
1995Hominy Hill G.C.Jo Jo Robertson United States3 & 1 Elizabeth Drambour
1994Tam O'Shanter G.C.Jill McGill United States6 & 4 Heidi Voorhees
1993Jackson Hole Golf & TennisConnie Masterson United States1 up Holly Reynolds
1992Haggin Oaks G.C.Amy Fruhwirth United States3 & 1 Sara Evens
1991Birdwood G.C.Tracy Hanson United States1 up Carri Wood
1990Hyland Hills G.C.Cathy Mockett United States5 & 4 Barbara Blanchar
1989Indian Canyon G.C.Pearl Sinn United States2 & 1 Kelli Akers
1988Page Belcher G.C.Pearl Sinn United States2 & 1 Tami Jo Hemingsen
1987Cog Hill G. & C.C. (No. 4 Course)Tracy Kerdyk United States4 & 3 Pearl Sinn
1986Sentry World G.C.Cindy Schreyer United States3 & 2 Vicki Goetze
1985Flanders Valley G.C., (Red and Blue nines)Danielle Ammaccapane United States6 & 5 Kristie Kolacny
1984Meadowbrook G.C.Heather Farr United States3 & 2 Kristie Kolacny
1983Ala Wai G.C.Kelli Antolock United States2 & 1 Nancy Taylor
1982Alvamar G.C.Nancy Taylor United States2 & 1 Kerri Clark
1981Emerald Valley G.C.Mary Enright United States3 & 1 Lauri Merten
1980Center Square G.C.Lori Castillo United States2 & 1 Pam Miller
1979Braemar G.C.Lori Castillo United States2 up Becky Pearson
1978Myrtlewood G.C. (Palmetto Course)Kelly Fuiks United States5 & 4 Diana Schwab
1977Yahara Hills G.C.Kelly Fuiks United States1 up Kathy Williams

Multiple winners

Four players have won both the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links and U.S. Women's Amateur Championships:

References

  1. "Changes Made to USGA Championship Roster" (Press release). United States Golf Association. February 11, 2013. Archived from the original on February 13, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  2. "USGA: Rules of Amateur Status". United States Golf Association. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  3. Brianna Do wins Public Links
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